Zimbabwe has assumed the African Public Procurement Network presidency in a show of confidence in the government’s policies and commitment to transparency and accountability in public sector procurement.
The official handover-takeover ceremony of the presidency to Zimbabwe this Thursday was described by the Guest of Honour, Vice President General (Retired) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga as a demonstration by the government to promote efficiency in public procurement systems in Africa.
“As we welcome the incoming President of the African Public Procurement Network, Dr Clever Ruswa, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations,” Dr Chiwenga said.
“His remarkable track record in public administration and his vision for fostering innovation in procurement systems inspires confidence in his ability to lead the African Public Procurement Network into the next chapter. We are eager to work alongside him as he leverages his expertise and passion to drive the agenda of the African Public Procurement Network forward.
“In embracing this new leadership, we are reminded that public procurement is not merely a bureaucratic process, it is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable economic growth and development across our continent, public procurement constitutes the backbone of the government, directly influencing critical aspects of our national development agenda.
“When effectively managed, it can stimulate local economies by enhancing infrastructure, health care, and education, while also supporting Small and Medium Enterprises and generating millions of jobs”.
The outgoing African Public Procurement Network President, Ms Uwingeneye Joyeuse, who is also Rwanda’s Public Procurement Authority Director General, described Zimbabwe’s assumption of the continental procurement body’s presidency as an opportunity for the country to public procurement on the continent.
“There is a lot that African governments will also learn in as much as the public procurement systems within the continent are concerned, going forward support to Zimbabwe is of paramount importance and we believe that Zimbabwe will further scale up the set targets in terms of our mission and objectives so going forward, this is a testament of more good things to come for the continental procurement systems,” she said.
In his acceptance speech the incoming African Public Procurement Network president, Dr Ruswa who is also the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, pledged to work for the benefit of African economies.
“It is an Honour for Zimbabwe to ride on the SADC chairmanship by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa. As I assume the new post I also pledge to work with all the African governments on issues related to efficiency in the public procurement systems.
“Given what we are doing as Zimbabwe, it then becomes imperative to focus on what needs to be done to further boost accountability. As it stands Zimbabwe has a lot to offer to the African economies on issues related to transparency and accountability for the benefit of African countries and their respective governments,” Dr Ruswa said.
The African Public Procurement Network is a grouping of 54 member countries whose main aim is to promote the development and integration of the public procurement sector through active cooperation, resource mobilisation and partnerships.
(ZBC News)
